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George  Washington  Flowers 
Memorial  Collection 

DUKE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


ESTABLISHED  BY  THE 

FAMILY  OF 

COLONEL  FLOWERS 


REPORT  OF  W.  H.   GIS^, 
CHIEF  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT 


OF 


CONSTRUCTION    AND    MANUFACTURE, 


TO 


HIS  EXCELLEXCY,  GOVERNOR  PICKEXS. 


COLUMBIA,    S.   O.J 

R.  W.  GIBBES,  PRINTKR  To  TIIK  C  uNVF.NTIoN". 


T-  ■      REPORT. 


Department  of  Construction  and  Manufacture, 

Columbia,  S.  C,  August  29th,  1862. 

To  His  Excellency  Gov.  Pickens: 

In  obedience  to  the  call  of  your  Excellency  on  this  Department 
for  a  report  of  its  condition,  "under  the  fifth  section  of  the  Ordinance 
of  the  Convention  organizing  the  Executive  Council,"  I  respectfully 
report : 

That  on  the  24th  March  last,  the  Governor  and  Council  created  the 
Department  of  Construction  and  Manufacture,  and  appointed  me  Chief 
of  that  Department;  and  that  I  entered  upon  its  duties  a  few  days 
afterwards.  The  most  important  duty  devolving  on  me  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  foundry  and  work  shops  for  casting  cannon,  making  gUU 
carriages  and  the  manufacture  of  small  arms.  The  Council  having 
decided  to  establish  a  foundry  and  armory  on  a  small  scale,  authorized 
me  to  search  out  a  suitable  location  and  procure  a  site.  Before  deter- 
mining upon  the  site,  and  with  a  view  to  get  all  the  information  n< 

to  secure  a  proper  location,  with  reference  to  motive  power, 
suitable  iron,  timber,  and  other  things  necessary  to  success  in  making 
ordnance  and  small  arms,  T  sent  a  special  agent  to  Richmond,  and  with 
the  assistance  of  the  authorities  procured  the  services  of  Mr.  Campbell, 
who  was  i  the  Tredegar  Works,  a  man  of  intelligence,  expe- 

rience, and  familiar  with  manufacturing  arms  and  munitions  of  war. 
In  company  with  him  and  Mr.  D.  Lopez,  the  General  Superintendent 
of  the  State  Works,  I  visited  the  Nesbit  and  King's  Mountain  Iron 
Works,  and  obtained  reliable  information  in  relation  to  the  other  iron 
works  in  the  Stata  .  The  pig  iron  made  by  the  Kin  ': 
Company,  in  York  Disl  critically  •  by  Mr.  Can  | 

and,  in  his  opinion,  was  well 

i.at  BOthit  intv. 

and  advised  thai  ■  lot  of  th<  iron  should 

■ 
sent,  and  wc  had 


test  the  caifjon.  The  defence  of  the  capital  being  of  paramount  con- 
sideration, the  test  was  not  made  for  some  time,  and  no  official  report 
has  yet  been  made  to  me  on  the  subject;  but  one  of  our  agents  who 
was  in  Richmond  at  the  time,  and  others  that  witnessed  the  experi- 
ment, inform  me  that  a  24-pounder  was  cast,  bored  and  subjected  to  a 
severe  and  unusual  test,  and  that  the  trial  was  highly  satisfactory  and 
established  beyond  doubt  that  the  iron  was  entirely  suitable  for  casting 
ordnance.  It  was  our  intention  to  bring  the  gun  to  South  Carolina  for 
the  use  of  the  State,  but  Col.  Gorgas  was  unwilling  to  spare  it,  and 
upon  his  proposing  to  pay  for  the  iron,  I  consented  that  the  Confederate 
Government  should  keep  it.  Mr.  Campbell  informed  me  that  there 
were  but  few  places  in  the  Confederacy  where  iron  suitable  for  cannon 
was  made,  and  that,  therefore,  it  was  of  great  importance  to  be  sure  of 
a  supply  of  such  iron.  Although  a  limited  quantity  of  this  iron  is 
now  made,  yet  if  necessary  it  can  be  largely  increased,  the  ore  being 
abundant  and  the  facilities  for  making  it  at  our  command.  The  impres- 
sion that  iron  ore  which  makes  tough  malleable  iron  will  necessarily 
be  suitable  for  casting  cannon  is  an  error,  and  has  been  demonstrated  to 
be  so  in  many  instances.  To  shew  the  importance  of  having  proper 
iron  for  casting  cannon  it  is  only  necessary  to  state,  that  the  Confeder- 
ate Government  was  compelled  to  transport  iron  all  the  way  from  New 
Orleans  to  Richmond  to  mis  with  other  iron  to  make  it  answer  the  pur- 
pose. 

Greenville  Court  House  was  selected  as  the  best  place  in  my  judg- 
ment to  establish  the  "State  Works;"  after  consultation  with  our 
General  Superintendent,  a  gentleman  of  great  ability  and  very  conver- 
sant with  manufacturing  in  all  its  branches,  and  with  Mr.  Campbell, 
who  has  had  a  large  experience,  is  entirely  disinterested,  and  whose 
opinion  therefore  is  entitled  to  great  respect.  The  reasons  in  detail  for 
the  selection  of  Greenville,  over  other  places,  have  been  already  given 
in  my  report  to  the  Governor  and  Council,  in  relation  to  the  location 
of  the  "  works,"  was  approved  by  them,  and  is  appended  to  this 
report.  Among  other  reasons,  Mr.  V.  McBee  made  a  present  to  the 
State  of  twenty  acres  of  land  near  the  village  and  directly  on  the  rail- 
road, for  which  he  had  refused  to  take  less  than  two  hundred  dollars  an 
acre,  and  for  which  gift  he  is  justly  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  the 
State.  It  was  important  that  the  "  works  "  should  be  located  imme- 
diately on  a  line  of  railroad  to  facilitate  the  transportation  of  heavy 
ordnance.  In  fact,  ten  inch  Columbiads  andother  heavy  guns  cannot 
be  transported  in  any  other  way  without  immense  cost  and  labor.     It 


was  desirable,  other  things  being  equal,  to  locate  the  "  works"  as  near 
as  possible  to  the  iron  works  from  which  the  supply  of  iron  was  to  be 
furnished,  but  to  do  so,  the  transportation  of  heavy  guns,  gun  carriages, 
shot  and  shell  down  to  Columbia  would  have  to  be  made  over  two  roads, 
instead  of  a  continuous  road  passing  directly  through,  and  so  of  the 
coal  and  other  things  necessary  for  the  works,  going  up  to  Greenville. 
Besides,  the  bridge  on  the  Spartanburg  &  Union  Railroad  is  not  regarded 
as  safe  for  very  heavy  freight,  and  might  give  way  at  a  time  when  it  would 
be  important  to  send  heavy  guns  over  it.  It  is  true  the  value  of  the  iron 
will  be  enhanced  by  additional  transportation,  but  for  the  reasons  above 
given,  and  others  in  my  report  above  alluded  to,  this  is  more  than 
counterbalanced  by  the  advantages  enumerated. 

Soon  after  the  selection  of  the  site  we  commenced  putting  up  the 
necessary  buildings  for  a  foundry  and  work  shops,  and  considering  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  materials  and  skilled  labor,  have  progressed 
rapidly.  In  the  meantime  temporary  work  shops  were  established  in 
Columbia  for  repairing  arms,  which  have  enabled  us  to  repair  and  put  in 
fine  condition  a  considerable  number  of  arms,  changing  old  flint  and 
steel  locks  to  percussion,  altering  bayonets  to  fit,  making  new  stocks 
when  necessary,  and  also  making  a  large  number  of  pikes,  details  of  which 
you  will  find  in  the  report  of  the  General  Superintendent  accompanying 
this  report. 

At  your  suggestion,  meeting  my  hearty  approval,  and  confirmed  by 
the  Council,  we  purchased  a  fine  lot  of  machinery  in  Charleston,  when 
the  city  was  seriously  threatened,  and  removed  it  to  Greenville,  even 
before  we  had  commenced  building  there.  If  the  city  had  been  cap- 
tured, there  was  no  other  place  in  the  State  where  shell  or  shot  could 
be  immediately  cast,  and  if  the  machinery  in  the  city  had  been  lost, 
it  could  not  have  been  supplied  without  great  difficulty  and  at  an 
enormous  expense.  Richmond  and  Nashville,  Tennessee,  were  also 
m  riously  threatened  and  in  great  danger  of  capture.  New  Orleans, 
where  an  armory  was  in  operation,  was  in  danger,  as  its  subsequent 
rapture  doMOMtnttd.  At  that  time  the  condition  of  affairs  was 
gloomy,  and  th<-  profpeel  was  that  the  Confederate  Government  rould 
not  topply  th"  troopi  with  arms  and  ammunition.  Under  these  cir- 
cunif-taiin  -,  ari'l  with  the  danger  of  invasion  extending  even  into  the 
interior,  if  would  havf  beM   culpable   negligence  not    t<>   prepare  for  it, 

by  endeavoring  to  sapplj  onaalvai  with  the  means  of  defence.  The 
fir^t  arms  ataaafaetaMd  were  pikesj,  not  because  we  considered  thom 

tnal  to  the  rinV  ot  Basket,  ba(  I  made  more  rapidly 

<"'!  were  better  than  no  arms  at  all,  and  may  jH  be  needed. 


P4 


The  machinery  obtained  from  Charleston,  though  very  valuable,  was 
not  sufficient  for  our  purposes,  but  through  the  indefatigable  exertions 
of  our  General  Superintendent,  Mr.  D.  Lopez,  we  succeeded  in  pro- 
curing the  machinery  removed  from  Nashville,  Tennessee,  when  the 
enemy  got  possession  of  the  town.  This  machinery  was  estimated  to 
be  worth,  at  the  time  we  received  it,  twenty-three  thousand  dollars 
($23,000);  at  the  present  rate  about  fifty  per  cent.  more.  The  terms 
upon  which  we  received  the  machinery  were  very  favorable, 
saving  the  State  of  South  Carolina  from  advancing  money  at 
a  time  when  there  were  so  many  drains  upon  her  resources.  It 
was  arranged  with  Governor  Harris  that  the  State  of  South  Carolina 
should  take  the  machinery  and  give  a  receipt  for  it,  subject  to 
settlement  at  a  fair  price  at  the  end  of  the  war.  Had  he  insisted  on 
selling  it  to  the  State,  and  required  a  cash  payment  at  the  time,  it 
would  have  deprived  the  State  of  the  use  of  money  necessary  for  other 
purposes,  and,  what  is  worse,  the  market  price  now  for  such  machinery 
is  enormous. 

On  my  retirement  from  office  as  Governor,  the  State  had  on  hand 
over  one  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance  and  thirty-two  thousand  stand  of 
small  arms,  including  those  in  the  United  States  Arsenal  in  Charleston, 
which  we  could  have  at  any  time  commanded;  and  exclusive  of  the 
public  arms  in  the  hands  of  the  militia,  many  of  which  had  been 
recently  issued,  and  some  of  them  of  the  most  approved  patterns;  so 
that  the  State  was  at  that  time  well  supplied  with  arms.  Since  then, 
up  to  November,  1861,  the  State  has  sent  to  Virginia,  in  the  hands  of 
her  troops  and  otherwise,  eleven  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty  stand 
of  arms,  besides  a  considerable  number  of  swords  and  pistols.  Seven 
thousand  stand  have  also  been  sent  to  Florida,  Pensacolaand  Memphis, 
making  a  total  of  eighteen  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty  sent  out  of 
the  State;  and  the  Confederate  Government,  upon  an  application  of 
your  Excellency,  has  refused  to  return  those  in  their  possession,  leaving 
it  to  the  State  to  make  a  charge  for  them,  in  her  account  with  that 
Government. 

That  the  State  should  always  have  a  moderate  supply  of  arms  on 
hand,  cannot  admit  of  doubt.  My  opinions  on  that  subject  arc 
better  expressed  than  I  can  express  them  in  the  report  made  by  Col. 
E.  Manigault  to  the  Ordnance  Board  on  the  21st  of  November,  1861. 
He  says:  "If  the  State  is  sovereign,  as  we  all  hold  she  is,  she  is 
sovereign  as  well  in  war  as  in  peace,  and  for  warlike  as  well  as 
peaceful    purposes.     To    claim   sovereignty  without  the  readiness,  or 


even  the  disposition  to  defend  that  sovereignty  by  force  of  arms, 
is  simply  absurd.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  State,  therefore,  to  retain 
the  means  of  defence,  and  not  to  give  up  to  any  other  power 
whatever  all  her  military  material,  and  in  so  doinc  shift  from  her 
own  shoulders  the  duty  and  labor  of  her  defence.  It  took  thirty  years 
for  South  Carolina  to  accumulate  the  ordnance  material,  small  though 
it  w.is,  which  was  in  her  arsenal  when  the  troubles  began,  if  she 
give  up  all  her  material,  when  will  she  be  again  supplied  ?  One  of  the 
most  powerful  arguments  used  against  the  State's  acting,  either  alone 
or  in  cooperation,  against  the  encroachments  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment, was  that  she  had  not  the  material  preparation  which  would  enable 
her  to  support  that  hostile  attitude.  As  long  as  the  political  atmos- 
phere appeared  serene,  it  was  impossible  to  induce  the  Legislature  to 
mal:  nations  for   procuring  military  material,  and  when    the 

storm  appeared  there  was  no  time  for  it,  and  the  State  was  warned  by 
those   opposed    to    action,  that  she   was    totally  unprepared    for    war. 
Against  a  recurrence  of  this  difficulty  I  would  endeavor  to  guard    by 
recommending  that  the  State  should  always  have  on  hand  one  hundred 
a  of  hcjivy  artillery,  of  the  most  approved  patterns  and  manufac- 
ture, about  eight  full  batteries  of  the  best  field  artillery,  and  ten  thou- 
sand stand  of  small  arms  for  infantry,  together  with   a  proportionate 
number  of  carbines,  pistols  and  sabres  for  the  use  of  cavalry.     The  oc- 
currences of  this  summer  and  autumn   demonstrate  clearly  that    the 
State    should    not    rely    entirely   upon   the   arms    of   the    Confed 
anient  for  her  protection  against  a  foreign  enemy." 
The  whole  amount  put  down  in  the  books  of  the  Chief  of  the  Treasury 
as  chargeable  to  this   Department  up  to  the  15th  August,  (with  the 
with  which  the  Department  had  nothing  to  do, 
aid  I>.  Lop  /..  Esq.,  directly  by  the  Governor  and  Coun- 
cil b  rttnentof  Construction  and  Manufacture  was  a 
liasM                ,212  02.     This  includes  many  items  not  properly  belon 
to  this  Department;  SS  for  instance,  amount  paid  fur  cotton  cards  to  be 
sold  e!  00*4    to  soldiers'  families,  f8,7(  of  removing  belli  from 
:   Charleston,  whf  n  the  city  WsVifl  f   capture, 

esjfc  paid  for  iron  to  make  spikes  for  mm  Confederal  4  and  to 

funded  tD  paid  for  1  >  be  used 

I 
say  15,000;  making  of  £1 1.'  ■ 

In  view  of  the  probability  * 

have  accumulated  a  con-  •piantity  of  coal,  v*rv  little  of  jr] 


8 

has  been  used  up  to  this  time.  We  have  also  on  hand  a  considerable 
quantity  of  steel,  files,  iron,  copper,  brass  and  other  materials  for  the 
manufacture  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war ;  which  will  make  the  out- 
lay for  the  rest  of  the  year  much  less  than  it  has  been  in  the  time  past ; 
and  we  have  already  saved  for  the  State  in  the  repairs  of  arms,  making 
pikes,  caissons,  battery  wagons,  twenty-two  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-three  dollars  (822,893),  all  of  which  will  appear  in  Exhibit  B. 

The  expense  of  carrying  on  the  "  State  Works"  has  been  necessarily 
very  considerable,  owing  to  the  high  prices  for  skilled  labor,  material 
and  provisions.  Iron,  steel  and  many  other  articles  are  sold  at  more 
than  quadruple  the  prices  formerly  paid  for  them,  and  we  have  been 
compelled  to  purchase  files  and  other  essential  articles  that  run  the 
blockade  at  whatever  prices  were  asked  for  them.  When  it  is  recol- 
lected that  rifles  which  sold  for  fifteen  dollars  before  the  blockade 
have  been  lately  sold  for  seventy  dollars,  and  cannon  powder  which 
heretofore  sold  for  twenty  or  twenty-five  cents  a  pound,  has  recently 
sold  for  two  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents,  some  idea  may  be  had  of 
the  cost  of  materials  which  have  run  the  blockade  or  have  been  en- 
hanced in  value  by  it. 

By  the  first  of  October  the  "  works  "  will  be  in  condition  to  cast 
shot  and  shell,  and  soon  after  that  time  to  cast  cannon.  No  small  arms 
will  be  made  in  less  than  six  or  seven  months  unless  the  exigencies  of 
the  service  should  require  them ;  in  that  event  by  multiplying  labor 
without  regard  to  its  profitable  employment,  the  manufacture  of  small 
arms  can  be  commenced  much  sooner.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
the  same  hands  to  a  considerable  extent  neoessary  to  carry  on  a  foun- 
dry and  work-shops,  can  at  the  same  time  make  the  machinery  and 
tools  necessary  to  manufacture  small  arms ;  and  in  that  way  the  work 
can  be  done  much  cheaper  than  by  employing  hands  exclusively  to 
make  machinery  and  fit  up  tools  for  small  arms. 

It  is  not  contemplated  to  establish  a  first  class  armory  like  the  one  at 
Springfield  or  Richmond,  but  upon  a  scale  commensurate  with  State 
means,  and  which  may  be  increased  if  necessity  should  require  it.  If 
the  war  should  continue  for  some  time,  and  more  especially  if  the 
blockade  of  Southern  ports  should  become  so  effective  as  to  prevent 
further  importation  of  arms,  it  will  be  absolutely  necessary  for  every 
armory  that  can  be  put  in  operation  to  be  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  small  arms ;  and  even  if  the  war  should  end  in  a  short  time,  we  will 
to  a  considerable  extent  be  compelled  to  keep  up  our  military  organiza- 
tion and  keep  arms  in  the  hands  of  our  people  to  be  at  all  times  pre- 
pared to  repel  the  aggression  of  bad  neighbors. 


With  an  armory  to  keep  the  State  at  all  timet  supplied  with  good 
arms,  and  with  the  materials  for  making  gunpowder  at  our  command, 
we  may  feel  confidence  in  our  means  of  defence.  The  saltpetre  plan- 
tation near  this  city,  established  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  and  in 
charge  of  the  Chief  of  the  Military  Department,  promises  to  supply 
that  indispensable  article  in  quantities  sufficient  for  our  purpose,  and 
can  be  increased  at  pleasure.  Sulphur  can  be  obtained  from  several 
places  in  the  State  at  small  cost,  and  willow,  the  only  other  material 
necessary  for  the  manufacture  of  powder,  can  be  obtained  all  over  the 
State. 

The  manufacture  of  salt,  though  properly  belonging  to  my  Depart- 
ment, was  put  under  the  charge  of  the  Chief  of  Justice  and  Police, 
before  my  Department  was  established,  and  has  never  come  under  my 
supervision. 

We  had  under  our  control  and  in  our  possession  a  large  quantity  of 
lead  received  from  various  parts  of  the  State,  some  by  gift  and  some 
by  purchase,  but  the  pressing  wants  of  the  Confederate  Government 
have  induced  us  to  turn  over  to  it  a  larg<'  portion  of  tin'  lead.  A  groat 
deal  yet  remains  in  several  of  the  upper  Districts  in  the  shape  of  J 
which  the  patriotic  owners  hold  subject  to  the  call  of  the  State  when- 
ever it  is  necessary  to  have  it.  It  has  not  been  removed,  as  it  would 
1"'  very  inconvenient  for  tin-  parties  to  do  without  it,  bi  Log  used  t<> 
conduct  water  to  their  dwellings,  and  it  was,  therefore,  thought  advisa- 
ble to  let  it  remain  until  the  emergency  required  its  removal  and 
by  me  State. 

i  the  application  of  Captain  D.  N.  [ograham,  of  the  Confederate 
ivy,  I  had  made  and  supplied    him  with   spikes  for  the   iron 
clad  gunboat  in   his  charge,  and  have  received,  through   the  Superitt- 
of,  payment  for  them. 

The  instructions  of  the  Covcrnor  and   Council,  dil  ;  ur- 

ehase  a  lot  of  ir  dollar- 

cents  a  pair,  and  sell  them  to  the  (ami 
in  the  ■ 

of  the  whit'  popul 
■ 
oth<  r  ehl  Of  dollar 

D,  and  a  few  of   tl 

I 


10 

it  is  believed  that  the  State  will  sustain  no  loss.  The  wisdom  of  the 
measure  is  fully  justified  by  the  call  for  more  on  all  hands,  and  the 
assurances  that  what  was  disposed  of  has  done  much  good,  and  by  the 
fact  that  factory  yarn  has  doubled  in  price  in  the  last  six  months,  and 
is  almost  beyond  the  reach  of  the  poor  to  purchase. 

For  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  operations  of  this  Department,  I 
refer  your  Excellency  to  the  exhibits  marked  A  and  B,  and  the  Report 
of  the  General  Superintendent  accompanying  this  report. 
All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

WM.  H.  GIST, 
Chief  of  Construction  and  Manufacture. 

Note. — I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  my  report  to  the  Governor  and 
Council  in  relation  to  the  establishment  of  the  State  Works  at  Green- 
ville. It  was  ordered  to  be  filed,  but  the  then  Secretary,  Col.  F.  J. 
Moses,  cannot  find  it.  WM.  H.  GIST. 


11 


EXHIBIT  A. 

W.  II.  Gist  in  account  ivith  Treasury  Department  for  Cash  received 
on  account  of  Department  of  Construction  and  Manufacture,  and 
other  pnrjwscs,  to  15th  of  August,  1862. 

To  cash  to  date  as  per  account §95  208  02 

By  amount  received  and  accounted  for  by 
General  Superintendent  of  the  State 
Works  in  his  account  rendered  and 
shown  in  paper  No.  3,  attached  to   his 

report 082,539  92 

Paid  Freight  on  Machinery  and  Stock 1,241  31 

"     for  Steel 693  01 

"     S.  Bobo  for  Iron 982  50 

u    one  double  barreled  gun 30  00 

"    for  Coal 3,184  88 

"    for  Pike  Staves 854  50 

$89,526  12 
Disbursement  for  Sundries  not  connected  with 
J'parlmcnt  of  Construction  and  Manu- 
facture. 

For  Cotton    Cards 83,786  65 

"  taking  down  and  removing 
Church  Bells  from  Charles- 
ton to  Columbia 1,704  75 

"    Desk  for  Office 18  00 

"    Lead 172  50-45,681   90 

195,208  02 


12 


EXHIBIT  B. 


Statement  of  value  of  Work  done  and  comp>rised  in  Paper  No.  1  of  the 

Report  of  General  Superintendent  of  State  Works. 
Altering  to  percussion,  repairing  and  cleaning  1,620  muskets, 

at  $8  per  musket $12,960 

llepairing  and  cleaning  239  rifles,  carbines  and  double-barrel 

guns  and  874  bayonets 817 

Building  six  caissons  and  limbers  complete 3,600 

Building  one  battery  wagon 750 

1000  pikes 3,000 

Spikes  for  gunboat,  for  Capt.  Ingraham 1,766 

$22,893 


REPORT 

OF   THE  GENERAL   SUFERINTENDENT   OF   THE   STATE 

WORKS. 


Office  General  Superintendent  State  Works, 
Greenville,  August  15,  18G2. 
Hon.    W.  //•   Oittf   Chief  of  Construction  and  Manufacture: 

Sir  :  In  accordance  with  your  directions,  I  herewith  beg  leave  to 
report  that  under  instructions  from  Col.  J.  Chesnut,  Jr.,  Chief  of  the 
Department  of  the  Military,  received  February  25th,  1862,1  purchased 
all  the  machinery  and  stock  which  was  available  and  suitable  for  the 
purposes  indicated  in  said  instructions. 

At  that  time,  the  impression  prevailing  that  Charleston  would  be 
immediately  attacked,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  place  it  all  beyond 
danger,  so  as  to  secure  to  the  State  the  ability  to  manufacture  such 
articles  as  might  be  essential  to  her  defence,  should  what  was  in  Charles- 
ton be  destroyed  or  abandoned. 

With  that  view,  it  was  immediately  removed  to  Columbia,  there  to 
await  the  decision  of  the  Governor  and  Council  as  to  ft  suitable  location 
After  some  delay  in  discussions  and  examinations,  I  was  directed  to 
locate  the  works  on  a  tract  of  land  donated  to  the  State  by  Vardry 
McBoe,  Esq.,  adjoining  Greenville,  and  directly  on  the  line  of  the 
nvillc  and  Columbia  Railroad.  I  commenced  to  clear  the  land  on 
tli<  20th  day  of  March,  and  erect  buildings  to  accommodate  the 
laborers.  Trior  to  that  period,  by  your  direction,  I  established  in 
Columbia,  in  the  workshop!  connected  with  the  "New  State  House," 
a  temporary  shop  for  repairs  and  alteration  of  small  arms  bel< 
the  State.     This  work  was  immediately  commenced,  and  from  that  I 

been  in  snoceaffal  operation,  repairing,  alb  i  ng  arms, 

manufacturing  pik<  I  tatemant  of  which 

abodied  in  ;  this  report 

time,   the  machinist!  and    blacksmiths  were    employed,   until    tl 

ich  worl  tion 

of  workshop?  in  pi  J  lie  ul 


14 

to  the  scarcity  of  labor  in  the  country,  very  much  retarded  the  progress 
of  building  for  want  of  materials,  but  now  that  the  crops  are  laid  by, 
and  the  labor  of  the  country  seeking  employment,  I  am  receiving  such 
as  are  necessary  to  their  completion,  and  hope  soon  to  have  them  all 
finished,  and  give  my  undivided  attention  to  manufactures. 

"When  Nashville,  Tennessee,  was  evacuated  by  the  Confederate 
authorities  in  April  last,  a  part  of  the  machinery  and  stock  was  saved 
from  the  armory,  which  that  State  had  commenced  to  establish,  and 
carried  to  Atlanta,  Georgia.  I  opened  a  correspondence  with  Governor 
Harris,  and  found  that  the  State  of  Tennessee  would  place  at  the  dis- 
posal of  this  State  all  the  machinery  and  stock  saved.  By  direction  of 
the  Governor  and  Council,  I  proceeded  to  Atlanta  and  succeeded  in 
obtaining  it  all.  Governor  Harris  directed  his  agents  to  turn  it  all 
over  to  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  subject  to  future  settlement.  As 
agent  of  the  State  I  received  it,  and  secured  the  services  of  such  work- 
men as  had  been  engaged  in  the  Nashville  armory  and  workshops, 
removed  the  machinery  and  stock  to  this  place,  the  workmen  to  the 
shops  in  Columbia  to  be  employed  in  altering  and  repairing  small  arms, 
while,  at  the  same  time,  I  commenced  erecting  a  shop  at  these  works 
to  receive  and  put  in  operation  the  machinery.  Paper  No.  2  is  an 
inventory  of  all  articles  received  from  the  State  of  Tennessee,  and  I 
refer  you  to  my  report  under  date  of  May  1st,  1862,  for  the  full  par- 
ticulars relating  to  that  subject. 

The  workshop  for  this  department  is  completed,  the  machinery  set 
up  and  in  operation ;  much  of  it  was  injured  and  some  parts  lost,  in  its 
removal  from  Nashville,  and  some  had  never  been  completed,  which 
have  been  repaired,  replaced  and  completed,  and  I  am  now  making 
and  obtaining  what  new  machines  are  necessary  to  commence  manu- 
facturing arms. 

Desirous  of  putting  to  immediate  use  the  skilled  labor  brought  from 
Atlanta  with  the  machinery,  I  have  necessarily  been  retarded  in  com- 
pleting those  shops  which  were  necessary  in  carrying  out  the  original 
intention  of  these  works;  that  being  now  accomplished,  it  is  not  in- 
tended to  permit  the  small  arm  factory  to  do  so  in  the  future,  but  to 
make  that  branch  as  far  as  practicable  separate  and  distinct,  the  inten- 
tion being  to  put  it  upon  such  a  basis  as  will  enable  the  State  to 
manufacture  arms  to  a  limited  extent  at  first,  but  so  arranged  that  the 
facilities  can  be  increased  at  any  future  time. 

I  have  of  the  land  donated  to  the  State  enclosed  a  space  of  six  hun- 
dred by  seven  hundred  feet,  and  have  now  erected  a  carpenters'  shop 


15 

one  hundred  feet  by  forty  feet,  with  suitable  machinery  for  constructing 
field  and  siege  ltuii  carriages,  caissons,  battery  wagons,  forges,  sabots, 
tents,  and  all  other  articles  necessary  for  field  uses.  It  is  driven  by  a 
twenty-five  horse  power  eugine,  and  is  in  operation  at  present  in  pushing 

t impletion  our  works,  and  will  soon   be  used  in   manufacturing  the* 

articles  referred  to.  I  have  erected,  as  before  stated,  a  shop  for  the 
small  arm  machinery,  one  hundred  by  fifty  feet,  and  have  that  in 
operation,  driven  by  an  engine  of  fifteen  to  twenty  horse  power. 
Another  machine  shop  is  completed,  one  hundred  by  fifty  feet,  and  tho 
machinery  for  the  heavy  work  is  now  being  placed  in  it,  to  be  driven 
by  an  engine  of  thirty  horse  power  now  to  place.  I  expect  to  have 
this  shop  in  full  operation  in  three  or  four  weeks.  The  blacksmith 
shop,  one  hundred  feet  by  fifty  feet,  is  up  and  occupied,  it  contains 
•ecn  forges,  with  space  for  twenty  more;  it  is  supplied  with  three 
trip  hammers,  nearly  completed,  two  for  welding  gun  barrels,  and  one 
large  one  fur  heavy  smithwork  generally.  This  simp  adjoins  the 
foundry,  which  is  of  brick,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  by  fifty-five  feet, 
twenty-eight  feet  high;  this  building  is  all  completed,  but  the  roof  has 
been  delayed  for  lumber,  which  I  am  now  receiving. 

On  the  premises  are  also  erected  an  office  forty  by  twenty  feet,  a 

house  sixty  by  twenty-five  feet,  a  smoke  house,  forty  by  eighteen 

an  iron  receiving  and  store  house,  thirty-five  by  Bizteen   feet,  a 

living  house  for  negroes,  sixty  by  sixteen  feet,  a  hospital,  three  kitchens, 

and  stables,  tool  house,  &c. 

water  arrangements,  which  are  near  completion,  consist  of  an 
ample  well,  yielding  B   full  supply,  the   water  from   which    is  forced 
through  wooden  pipes,  six  hundred  feet  in  length,  to  the  highest  point 
<>f  the  lot,  obtaining  a  head  of  forty  feet;  it  is  received  in  a   brick 
taining  thret  thousand  five  hundred  gallons,  built  under- 
md,  and  from  thence  conveyed  to  the  various  w  On  the 

premises,  at  vari  hydrants  are  placed  to  deliver  water  fir 

ally  for  suppressing  fires,  which,  with 
the  ,-,id  of  an  excellent  fire  engine  borrowed  from 

.ny  of  Charleston,  will  be  a  valuable  acqnisitioi 

I    which  fifty  are  white  workmen. 

1  and  disbursed  to  date,  I  refer  jqu  to 

ge  number  of  miscellaueoui  arm?,  all  of  t'  rable,  have 


16 

been  turned  over  to  these  works  from  the  State  Arsenal.  Preparations 
are  making  to  put  them  in  good  condition  for  the  use  of  the  different 
branches  of  the  service,  which  they  may  prove  suitable  to. 

Very  respectfully,  DAVID  LOPEZ, 

General  Superintendent    State    Works. 


No.    1. — Statement   of  work  done  at  shops  in  the  New  State    House 
Yard,  Columbia,  S.  C. 

Muskets,  repaired  and  altered  to  percussion 1620 

Rifles,  repaired  and  altered  to  percussion 213 

Carbines,  repaired  and  altered  to  percussion 2 

Double-barrel  guns,  repaired 24 

Bayonets 874 

Caissons,  with  limbers,  spare  wheels  and  poles  complete 6 

Battery  wagorj,  with  limber 1 

Pikes  and  staves 1000 

Gunboat  spikes  made  for  Capt.  D.  N.  Ingraham 4  \  tons 

State  Works,  Greenville,  S.  C,  August  15th,  1862. 


No.     2. — Inventory    of   Machinery,    Tools    and    Stock    of   Tennessee 
Armory,  Atlanta,  March,  1862. 

1  Hand  Lathe. 

1  6  foot  Engine  Lathe,  complete. 

1  10}  "      "  "  " 

1  14    "      "  "         unfinished  and  under  construction. 

1  12    "     "  "         complete. 

1  10  foot  set  of  Ways. 

1  Breeching  Machine. 

1  Milling  Machine,  incomplete. 

1  Compound  Planer,  complete. 

1  Drill  press,  complete. 

1  Planer  without  table. 

1  8  Spindle  Drill  Press,  complete. 

Parts  of  Profiling  Machine. 

1  Punch  and  Shear,  complete. 


17 

1    Bolt  Header  and  Dies,  incomplete. 

1  Gear  Cutter,  complete. 

7  Arbors  or  Boring  Bars. 

!<•   Sets  Overhead  rig,  complete. 

6584    lbs.  Shafting  and  Pulli 

1   (Old  man  .  Drill  Stand. 

3   Hangers  for  Counters  (casting),  103  lbs.  to  309  lbs. 

17  "      Main  Shafting,  1,571  lbs. 

5  (without  boxes)  51  lbs.  to  255  lbs. 

1   Overhead  rig  for  Gear  Cutter,  complete. 

5  Legs  for  Brill  Lathes,  36  lbs.  to  180  lbs. 

Parts  of  old  Milling  Machine,  995  lbs. 

1  Grindstone  Frame,  complete,  374  lbs. 
3  Polishing  Beads,  complete. 

2  Billing  Rolls  and  Stands. 

1    Fixture  for  holding  barrels  to  mill  cone  seats. 
Parts  of  Lathes  (some  work  done),  cast  iron,  101  lbs. 

17  Bench  Vices,  wrought  iron,  905  lbs. 

"         «        cast  iron,  261  lbs. 
"Wire,  all  sizes,  some  cast  steel,  181  lbs. 
Cast  Steel,  6,600  lbs. 
Blister  Steel,  450  lbs. 
Block  Tin,  80  lbs. 
Brass  and  Copper,  170  lbs. 

:  for  Lock  Franios  Drilling. 
•  '    II. 

1  2   Gig  Saw.-. 
'J    1 1  ark  Saw  Frames. 

18  Doz.  <iun  Wipers. 

1    Stand  for  Drilling  Bamrods. 

•ks  and  1 1 
134  Taps,  all  sizes,  from  1J  to  1  1-1 6 
L  Cai     Draftii      i'"ols. 
1    Alphabet. 

ires. 
1   2  ft.  Standard  Scales. 

_  and  Mill  fur  Stirrups. 
1    <u_'  and  Mill  for  Main  SpriDg  Pivots 
1    Kai.hit  Drill. 

'"gs- 
3 


18 

50  Bench  Hammers. 

40  Monkey  Wrenches. 

7  Draw  Knives. 

19  Iron  Braces. 

34  Hand  Vices  (16  with  handles) 

106  Screw  Drivers. 

30  Pairs  Pliers. 

462  Sheets  Sand  Paper. 
280       "      Emory     " 
43  Bits. 

1  Patent  Brad  Awl. 

2  "         "       "     and  Handles. 
14  Chisel  Handles. 

3  Smooth  Planes.  *> 
1  Jack  Plane. 

103  Cones  (small). 

300       "     (Government). 

1  Gig  for  Filing  Tumblers. 

1  Stamp,  "  Tennessee  Armory," 

1  Hand  Saw. 

1  Copying  Press. 

1  Gun  Gauge,  brass. 
110  Drills. 

18  Reamers. 
25  Rose  Bits. 

3 1  Cherries. 

14  Drill  Sockets. 

2  Tumbler  Punches. 
2         "         Mills. 
10  Counter  Boxes. 

5  Boring  Arbors. 

12  Cast  Steel  Centres  for  New  Lathes. 

6  Rests  for  Lathes. 
2  Drill  Sockets. 

1  6  in.  Fairman  Chuck. 

1  Set  Mills  for  Milling  Tumblers,  5  in.  set. 

1     "       "      "         "      Lock  Frame,  14  in.  set  (top  and  bottom). 

"      "         "      Main  Springs,  5  in.  set  (sides). 
1     "       "      "         "      not  finished,  11  in.  set  (top  and  bottom). 

7  Plain  Mills. 


1 


19 

1  Mill  for  Key  Scats. 
15  Unfinished  Mills. 

8  Arbors  for  Milling  Machine. 

12  Sets  Jaws  for  Milling  Machine  (2  sets  cast  steel). 

5  Handles  and  Stands  for  Milling  Machines. 
4  Sets  Jaws  "  "  " 

2  "     Jumpers  and  Dies  for  forging  Tumblers. 
17  Hand  Tools  and  Handles. 

62  Turning  Tools  (Engine  Lathe). 

1  Index  Head. 

11  Tap  and  Breeching  Wrenches. 

2  Knees  for  Flaners. 

6  Emory  "Wheels. 

40 1  lbs.   Sheet  Bras?. 

2  Stands  and  Tools  for  pcrcussioning  old  guns. 

2  Papers  Brads. 

3  Gross  Screw.-. 

35  lbs.  Small  > 

12  Bench  Brushes. 
15  Cone  Wrenches. 
75  Back  Action  Locks. 

60  Common  Locks  (Rifle;. 

4  Old  Musket  Locks. 

■2"  S  ta  Triggen  for  Rifles. 
65  Machine  Oilers. 

36  Tin  Lamps. 
74  Paint  Brushes. 
4  Striping  Brushes. 

7  Parallel  (-tripes  Tor  Planer? 
56  Tumbler  pins  (turned). 
12  Lathe  Wrenches. 

1  Grindstone  Shaft  (turned). 

1  Lot  Bolts  and  N 

1  Ohack  f<>r  holding  Lock  frame  to  take  cut  on 

2  Soldering  Irons. 

1  Clamp  and  Cutfc  t 

18  Main  Spring!  for  reptiriag  Old  Gun?. 

1 1"  L 

■ 
20  Beaefa  <>i]  l 


20 

70  lbs.  Babbitt  and  Type  Metal. 
35  lbs.  Lead  (old  pipe). 
400  Ferrules  for  File  Handles. 
628  Musket  Flints. 

1  Jumper  Stand  for  forging  Locks. 

2  Sets  Jumper  Stands  for  forging  Locks. 

1  «         "  "       "       <•<         Triggers. 

2  »         "  "       "       "         small  work. 
1  Roll  File  Card. 

1  Tin  Box  for  small  articles. 

3  Pieces  Lace  Leather. 

2  Grig  Saws. 

2  Pieces  Sheet  Steel. 

6  Pairs  Strap  Hinges. 

9  Drawer  Locks. 

150  Carriage  Bolts,  2  to  6  in. 

1  Counter  shaft  (turned,  30  lbs). 

6  Oil  Stones. 

13  Anvils,  105  to  150  lbs. 

6  Blacksmith's  Sledges. 
25  pr.     "         Tongs. 

8  "         Set  Hammers. 

9  "       "         Swedges. 
19  "         Chisels. 
1  Level. 

7  Screw  Plates. 

8  Steel  Punches. 
4  prs.  Fullers. 

3  Hand  Hammers. 

2112  ft.  New  Leather  Belting,  assorted  sizes,  1  to  12  in. 
507 J  "  Old         "  "  "  "      2  to  13  J  in. 

63       "  Gum  Belting,  3  J  and  6  in. 

9  doz.  Gun  Wipers. 

7  gross  Knitting  Pins,  lis  to  14s. 

10  papers  Finishing  Nails,  1  to  2  J  in. 
\\  lbs.  Beeswax. 

78  87-144  gross  assorted  Gimlet  Screws. 

348  9-12  doz.  assorted  Files. 

43  patterns  for  parts  of  Machines  and  Tools. 

8  doz.  Chisel  Handles  and  1  lot  Core  Boxes  for  patterns. 
500  lbs.  Emory. 


21 

No.  3. — Statement  of  Cash  received  and  expended. 

Received  from  Treasury  Department  to  date $82,539  92 

"            "     J.  M.  Eason,  Superintendent,  for  iron  fur- 
nished him  for  Gunboat 518  11 

"           "     Capt.  D.  H.  Ingraham,  for  spikes  for  Gun- 
boat      ],7f,f,  or, 


Paid  for  Machinery  and  Tools 818,946  01 

"       Building  Materials 5,617  44 

"       Stock 29,350  92 

*       Provisions 6,001  40 

"       Salaries  and  Pay  Rolls 19,634  06 

M       Incidental  Expenses 1,764   '-'l 

Balance  on  hand 3,509  32 


884,821  00 


State  Works,  Greenville,  S.  C.,  August  15th,  1862. 


884,824  09 


v 


